GreenvilleOnline.com -America's coasts at risk

Interstintg article in the Greenville paper. Citing the laundry list of problems that challenge the US coast and coastal communities. This must be national stormwater week or something, it seems that everyone is talking about the problems that stormwater caused by development casuse. this article talks about coastal sprawl.

From the air, the footprint of coastal sprawl is unmistakable -- vast tracts of newly built houses stretch for miles. Ribbons of asphalt are crowded with shopping centers, gas stations, restaurants and other buildings.

If runaway land consumption and relentless growth in automobile use continue, many healthy shore communities could face sharp declines over the next 25 years, says Dana Beach, director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and an authority on coastal sprawl. He is especially concerned about developing and paving over land that drains into nearby bodies of water.

The usual suggestion is to creat a new urbanist type of environment on the coast. What folks don't seem to realize is that this type of development will create more problems than the single home 30% lot coverage we have on the Outer Banks The only answer to moving people of the coast is to buy the land and buy it soon. Since this would inovlve billions (or more likely trillions) of dollars it simply isn't going to happen. The better answer is to reduce allowable density of development and fight hard to maintain it. The runoff problems cited in the article (silt and pollution are relatively simple to control. Demand on site retention of at least the first inch of stormwater, then allow the effuent that does go offsite to percolate back into the environment as much as possible. This means open swales and ditches. Some consider these facilities ugly but they are the best practice in reducing stormwater pollution.

You can find the Pew Ocean Commissions report mentioned in the article here

Stormwater meeting

VA Pilot article about a recent meeting on stormwater issues on the Outer Banks. I am very sorry that I didn't go though I know would have been very frustrated after the meeting. First judging from both the VA Pilot article and the Coastland Times article some good points were made:

• Stormwater is a primary source of pollution


• DOT (roadway runoff) is the major contributor


• Filling wetlands is not good practice

BUT The premise that there is a huge stormwater problem on the Outer Banks is just wrong. Storm water has 2 characteristics quantity and quality. We generally deal with quantity very well. There are a couple of exceptions like the area in Kitty Hawk near what was Friscos (now Sunburners). This area has not drained well since RT 158 was expanded to 5 lanes and the commercial sites were developed just to the west. Neither DOT or the Town of Kitty Hawk seem very interested in fixing it, even though it causes major problems during severe storm events and can cause traffic to back up even in small rainstorms. There are other trouble spots that need to be addressed but most of the northern beaches do not flood when it rains. There are problems every 10 years or so when we get exceptional rain events. The late summer of 2004 was such a year and that was the genesis for the CSI committee mentioned in the article. Understand that we cannot prepare the Outer Banks for 10+ inches of rainfall in 2 weeks. All the cisterns and rain gardens in the world won't deal with that much water. Luckily those events don't seem to happen very often maybe once every 10 years of so.
Quality is a different matter. Stormwater does contribute to coastal pollution but the runoff that does the most polluting is identified in the article: roads what the article doesn't tell you is that DOT is working on finding ways to remediate their stormwater outfalls. They have not released any plans yet but they have a working group and they have $money$. No one seems to want to give people who are trying to solve the issues credit.
The meeting seemed focussed on recommending fixes on residential property for what is really a commercial and DOT problem. Require stormwater retention for commercial projects and make DOT improve the effluent quality in the outfalls and a major part of the quality issue is resovled. Cisterns and water gardens will not make the beach road drivable after a hurricane or keep groundwater from surfacing in low lying areas of KDH.
Lets hope this group starts to build some credibility with local governments so they can do some good. Espousing residential solutions will not make an impact.

Pollution sources on Hatteras Island

This is a letter I wrote to a reporter at the OB Sentinel about some comments in a recent article

In your recent article on flooding in Buxton Woods you reported: “The state has raised concerns not only over the potential for drainage of natural wetlands, but also with the high levels of bacteria found in the water,” Clark said. High fecal coliform counts result from both wildlife and septic systems on the island. I have an interest in scientific data related to pollution from septic tanks. It is unclear from the article whether the statement about the source of the fecal coliform was made by Mr. Clark or was added by you. If it was added by you I am interested in what source material you used to make this statement, if it was made by Mr. Clark, I will contact for his sources. Improperly installed or maintained septic systems can cause pollution but this is actually little scientific evidence that such pollution exists in the real world. I am very interested in find any data that does exist.

If you wrote that paragraph based on your knowledge of the causes of pollution I would encourage you to do more research on the statement and consider using the term "improperly operating or failed" septic systems as the cause of fecal coliform pollution not septic tanks in general. By using these terms you can help your readers understand that on-site waste systems like septic tanks need not be sources of pollution and in fact are excellent methods of waste disposal that can be economical, highly efficient and environmentally friendly.

If you would like more information about the performance of on-site wastewater systems and septic tanks in particular please let me know I would be happy to point you in the right direction. Further, the Town of Nags Head's Septic Health Initiative, which I have been involved with, is an excellent source for more information.

ARTICLE: Demand for local housing still up in Albemarle area (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

Ok, I guess I understand but are you sure.

ARTICLE: "The demand [for housing] is ahead of us because a number of people coming in aren’t here yet,” he said.":

Paying for parking

One of the big differences between Dare County and some of the southern beach areas ia the vast amount of free beach access found throughout Dare County (except in Southern Shores and Duck). That is not as true in places like Wrightsville Beach were parking is at apremium and most public lots have parking meters. These same southern towns have large mainland communities just west of them, often in the same county (taxing district) that have citizens that want to go to the beach. Here is some backlash, note the beach nourishment access issue raised at the end.

Beach parking

Wilmington Star (1/26/05)
EDITOR: The headline to your Jan. 11 piece "Tourists to pay more?" does not represent the full impact of Wrightsville Beach's addiction to ever-increasing parking fees. These increases affect all New Hanover County residents wishing to visit Wrightsville Beach. The increases affect tourists staying in Wilmington wishing to visit the beach. But they have no impact on those visitors patronizing the island's home rentals, condominiums and hotels, who by and large provide free parking to their tourists. A reasonable fee to cover the cost of day-trippers' added expense to the town's operation is certainly justified. Higher fees could be warranted if Wrightsville Beach wanted to create a fund to increase parking, add public facilities, or other enhancements for those wanting to spend the day at the beach. To increase parking fees to keep property taxes down when they're already pay the lowest rates in the county is wrong. The millions of state and federal dollars spent to renourish Wrightsville Beach are provided with the understanding that a certain amount of public access is maintained. ... (To) the residents of Wilmington and other visitors: "Welcome to Wrightsville Beach, now go home. P.S. Thanks for the sand." - Charles Carver, Wilmington

Pilike on Setbacks

"This may well be the last straw for North Carolina beaches":

With his usual flair for subtle understatement Dr. Orin Pilkey chimes in on the CRC setback controversy. Always good for prophesies on the death of NC beaches Pilkey really just wants everyone to get off them so he can bring his Duke classes down here in peace. He has gone from a bright observer of natural phenomena in his early works to a repetitive drone with little to add to the current debate on beach nourishment except no on should have built here.
His comments in this diatribe don't give the CRC credit for undertaking reviews of the very issues he chides them on and clearly overstates the case for problems in past projects.

ÃÂ�• Although the state has rules governing the quality of sand used for beach nourishment, spectacularly bad projects have occurred in the past five years.

ÃÂ�• Although the state has rules requiring that beach nourishment sand be taken from environmentally safe locations, the ebb tidal deltas of Bogue and Shallotte Inlets have been extensively mined. This will increase erosion along adjacent beaches; as it already has on Ocean Isle Beach next to Shallotte Inlet.

Anyway, he probably is right, allowing the reduction of setbacks generally in areas that have nourished beaches is just not a good idea. If there are special circumstances ththehe State has a variance procedure to allow address them.

More on Setbacks.

This expands on information on a previous post. This is a complicated issue.

Tideland News Letter to the Editor (1/25/06)

To the editor:

A recent report of the January Emerald Isle town board meeting by reporter Kathleen Bliley gave an incomplete report of my comments to the board about a plan to change set-backs on the east end of Emerald Isle. One of the points I made to the board was that the CAMA oceanfront setback from the ocean is 60 feet or 30 times the erosion rate of 2 feet per year. This gives buildings along the oceanfront a design life of approximately 30 years. We spent millions of dollars to save a handful of houses that were 30 years old and should be in the ocean under those regulations. When asked if I would have let those houses fall in the ocean, my answer was "Yes." A better answer would have been "That's the owner decision - not mine." There is now a proposal to move the oceanfront setbacks further forward. This will allow older structures to be replaced with larger, more expensive structures - placing them even closer to the ocean. Does placing larger, more expensive structures closer to the ocean make sense in a time of rising sea levels and increasing frequency and destructive power of hurricanes? We are ensuring, at taxpayer expense, a never-ending need for multi-million dollar nourishment projects to protect these structures and their swimming pools in an area the ocean is likely to erode.

Dorothy "Doje" Marks - Emerald Isle

OB Sentinel Jeanne AcreeLetter

Right on Jeanne
"Acree: Remember education"

Dare County citizens really get charged up over their schools and beach nourishment. A little thought will reflect how much the schools depend on the beach, the moneymaker.

I have paid property taxes in the county beginning in 1966. From that time to the present not one of children has attended county schools, but I did not ask for a reduction in my taxes because of it. Why, because I love Dare County. The children here deserve a good education. They also deserve a community that will be able to offer them a job and a good school system for their children. Neither will be possible without a viable beach.

This year, my county property tax has increased 389 percent on my 1006-square-foot home and ocean front lot that has eroded about 75 feet over the years. At 75 years old, it is unlikely my income can match that increase, but I am willing to pay another one percent more on some of my purchases because in the end it will be for tomorrow's children.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the beach huggers would transfer their hate of the beach to hugs and love for the life of our precious area and its future?

-Jeanne Acree, Nags Head"

OB Sentinel Ray Midgett Letter

As usual Ray can't quite get it right. For the real story see the posts below about the N&O article on setbacks following beach nourishment.

Printable Version: "Meanwhile, the "special interests" on the Outer Banks are telling the working families, to pay the sand tax first; and not worry, because one day the oceanfront investors will get huge assessments from our county commissioners. And, they will continue to tell you the latter will never benefit from this endeavor."

The idea the ocean front property owners won't benefit from beach nourishment is ridiculous. Of course they benefit. There homes get protected from the ocean. They will also get a substantial bill to pay. The County, by law can't set assessments until the project cost is known. But that doesn't Ray from demanding the County send out bills for a project that may never get done.

There are legitimate concerns about beach nourishment but Ray's hyperbole doesn't help the discussion.

More on setback exceptions

Here is a long article from the Carteret Times explaining the Emerald Isle NC view on the issue.

Town wants setbacks relaxed

Carteret County News Times by Kathleen Bliley (1/16/06)

EMERALD ISLE - This town's eastern beach is lined with 171 oceanfront lots considered too small under state and local setback rules for new construction or major repair, but a review of regulations could provide relief for owners. Once plagued with severe erosion, the lots from Emerald Isle's boundary with Indian Beach west to the Ocean Reef subdivision have grown since the town's 2003 eastern beach nourishment. However under the state Coastal Resources Commission's rules for nourished areas, the lots still retain the same first line of vegetation designated before the project as the starting point for the required 60-foot oceanfront building setback. Since the town also requires a street-front setback, all but three lots in the eastern section of town are nonconforming, meaning they could not qualify for new construction permits or be repaired if damaged beyond 50 percent. The irony is that the beach fronting these lots, many occupied by older homes, is much wider now with an enviably strong dune line, according to Town Manager Frank Rush. "I think the area is in good shape, particularly the dunes," he said Friday. Emerald Isle commissioners have agreed to push for a rule change that would allow the first line of vegetation to be shifted in cases where beach nourishment has taken place, an amendment that beach nourishing communities such as Oak Island and Surf City also support. In November, the state Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) agreed to review the rules regarding oceanfront setbacks over the next several months. Easing the setback rule would certainly improve property values and give owners the opportunity to redevelop or sell, Mr. Rush said. Phil Gagnon, an agent with Realty World, represents two owners of undeveloped, nonconforming lots, which have been slow to draw interest given their present status as unbuildable, he said. "People are not willing to take that kind of gamble," Mr. Gagnon said Friday. They are more willing to buy nonconforming lots with existing homes, he said, pointing out that many have been sold in recent years. Even so, those people are taking a chance on homes that if destroyed completely by hurricanes or fire couldn't be rebuilt. Even if the lots kept their nonconforming status, the CRC could help owners by allowing homes that have suffered more than the current rule of 50 percent to be repaired or replaced, Mr. Gagnon said. Also, "the fact that beach nourishment likely will continue needs to be taken into consideration," he said. For her part, former commissioner Doje Marks opposes any rule changes and told commissioners Tuesday during their regular meeting that the town should never have invested in eastern beach nourishment. "We spent millions of dollars to protect a handful of homes more than 30 years old," Mrs. Marks said. "We shouldn't have been bailing them out." That perspective is flawed, Commissioner Nita Hedreen said, in that it doesn't take into account the town's responsibilities to maintain Emerald Isle's viability. "I will do everything I can to keep houses from falling into the ocean," she said. In addition to supporting the CRC rule changes, the town could reduce streetfront setbacks to help nonconforming lots gain some size, but a comprehensive look revealed only a handful of lots that would be helped by that amendment, Mr. Rush said. The lots' market values now are about half that of oceanfront lots in the central and western sections of the town's beach, he said.

N&O CRC considers setback exemptions after nourishment

I thought I have this issue figured out but after reading this N&O article I have a better understanding.
The question seems to be a little more complicated than simply letting people build on nourished beaches. As I read the articles the issue is rebuilding homes that saw the setback line move west prior to nourishment. Now the home cannot be rebuilt in same place even though there is substantial beach in front of the house. Think a Surfside Dr. home burning down and not being able to be rebuilt after we spent $30 million to nourish the beach in front of it. I am not endorsing the concept but I need to think about it more.

Note the photo in the article is of an unnourished beach and not indicitive of the issue at all.

ARTICLE: Eroding line in sand divides Outer Banks (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

Katherine Kozak and the Va. Pilot's take on the upcoming referendum on the 1% sales tax to pay for beach nourishment. A lot of time spent with Mark Martin, the leader of the group supporting beach nourishment. Nothing from Ray Midgett or the Beachuggers. They may not have been at the meeting. T

The article reports on a speech by Dr. Stan Riggs geologist from ECU. He spoke at Jockeysridge State Park last week. Apparently he did not utter absolutes about the futility of nourishment, which is surprising. Normally he supports the Orin Pilkey view that people shouldn't live here, that we should just abandon the beach. You get some of that from the article but it also reports

Riggs cast a scientific wet blanket on the idea of human control of coastal erosion. Yet he stopped short of condemning beach nourishment, a matter of deep divide for residents of the barrier islands.

Beach nourishment has worked in other places and it can work on the Outer Banks. We just need to realize a couple of things.

• It will be expensive because we ilve in any with a very dynamic beach


• It will have to be mnaintained because the sand is put there to erode. It will not be permanent. It will require maintenance


• If we don't do something we will face enourmous problems in the next 20 years. We will lose most of the ocean front homes, not just in high erosion areas, but everywhere.

N&O Hold that line

Editorial in the N&*O makes the right point for the wrong reasons and in a pretty funny way to boot. The Coastal Resources Commission will soon consider allowing homes to be built in areas where beach nourishment has taken place and where lots that were unbuildable prior to nourishment could be be built on if (and here's the catch) the CRC changes state set back rules that maintain the pre nourishment setback line on nourished beaches. The rules should not be changed, not because as the N&O maintains it would cause a new surge in beachfront building but because the setback rules serve a good purpose, to reduce the threat to coastal construction. Allowing reduced setbacks defeats the very purpose of nourishment which is to reduce damage. Allowing building on previously unbuildable lots even if the new sand makes the beach look wide. Do not allow nourishment to become an excuse for bad development.
Now here's the funny part:

"Beyond those potential problems, changing these rules would have an immediate impact all over the coastline, where the push to renourish unstable beaches would gain steam. Either the state or beach communities would be investing no telling how many hundreds of thousands of dollars building back beaches so developers or property owners could come in and build more beach houses. Beach property along the Tar Heel coast, as buyers and sellers both know, has exploded in value in the last few years."

How much nourishment does the N&O think anyone is goinog to get for "hundreds of thousands of dollars" Try tens of millions. These guys are out of touch with reality. Also if the rule were changed it would be a minimal impact on development. There simply aren't that many lots that would be affected unless the CRC allows building on the nourished beach which it can't because that is public trust land. So once again the N&O shows its lack of understanding (ignorance is a bit too strong) of coastal issues.

Under The Ridge

Under The Ridge This is a pretty cool blog by some guy (test post for backlinks

More on Spear nomination to replace Culpepper

I didn't see the Va. Pilot from Sat. til just now. Stan White lost by 4 votes and is quoted "The only reason I lost was because of where I live. The delegates werre adamant that Dare County already has too much power".
I was not at the meeting so I have no idea what was said, however some politicians might have simply wished Mr. Spear well and left it at that. White is close to Gov. Easley. The reports say the Gov. is bound by law to appoint the nominee, if those reports are wrong or if Easley has an opening don't be surprised to see White appointed anyway.

Letter from Sentinel - Paul Tine

I have no idea who Mr. Tine is but I like his thinking. The beach is a huge economic engine. What will we do if people don't want to come to the beach here. Check out what happened to tourism in NJ when the perception was their beaches were polluted. Our tourism dollars rose dramatically while there numbers plummetted.

The Outer Banks Sentinel: "-Paul Tine, Nags Head"
Tine: Invest in community


There has been a great deal of discussion recently about Dune Restoration both publicly and privately.

In my opinion the entire issue boils down to one important fact. A desirable, functional beach is, overwhelmingly, the most important asset Dare County has. It may seem obvious to state it, but our community does not have manufacturing firms, a major university or Fortune 500 companies that can support our economy. Almost every business in the county can directly, or indirectly, trace the bulk of its income to tourism.

Usually when a local government identifies its most important revenue-generating asset, it protects that asset. This is why municipal tax dollars are often used to reinvigorate downtown areas, keep manufacturing firms, or renovate convention centers and airports.

Likewise, when an opportunity to increase revenue is identified it is explored, usually at some significant cost. For example, when the state began expanding Hwy 64 to four lanes there was no question that the tax money (including that of Dare County residents) being spent would pay dividends to our community. The highway made it faster and easier to get here from the Raleigh area expanding the markets we could draw from.

What the Dune Restoration project is attempting to do is invest in our community in order to pay dividends both now an in the future.

I encourage people to continue to question the plan's finer points and feasibility. Competent government oversight by the people it represents is always necessary. But know this, engineered Dune Restoration projects do work while other legal alternatives have been found to be deficient. There is a plan for success that includes the participation of the State and Federal Government while requiring beachfront property owners to pay additional amounts. As you continue to question the effectiveness of the project, please take the time to make an informed inquiry.

My primary concern is not for the beachfront property owners. I have no direct monetary interest in any beachfront property. My concern is for the present and future economic well being of the county I am proud to live and work in.

-Paul Tine, Nags Head

OB Sentinel Spear to Culpepper seat

Spear to fill out Culpepper's term in House
BY CHARLEY BUNYEA, SENTINEL STAFF

In what resulted in a nomination determined by so few votes that only single digits separated the totals for the two candidates, Thursday, House District 2 Democrats voted to recommend that retired Washington County Clerk of Superior Court, Tim Spear, complete the remainder of this year filling the seat held by former state Rep. Bill Culpepper.

The result came as a suprise to some in the House 2nd District as Dare County controlled 100 of the 213 votes. Votes were alloted one per 300 people in each of the four counties, which was thought to be to the advantage of Dare County Board of Commissioners chairman and House hopeful, Stan White.

Intersting turn of events. Seems there may have been an "anyone but Dare County" movement at the meeting. This is often the case with NE NC. Dare County has so much and shares so little that there is resentment.

We will see how much Mr. Spear is seen in Dare County. He will need some Dare votes if he is to win in the primary in May. Stan says he will run and I believe him. He is a good fundraiser and still has the NC DOT board position from which to dispense largesse Should be an interesting time. While I have no knowledge of Mr. Spear, I have to think the Republicans are chomping at the bit to run against Stan. He has not always made people happy in his role as Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

More seashells

 

When is a good time to find shells? (O B Sentinel)

Ask the Aquarium: When is a good time to find shells?
BY SHERRY WHITE


Shelling is a favorite pastime for many beach strollers and an earnest pursuit for serious collectors. Photo by John Mauser
A. Shelling is best an hour or so before and after low tide, especially during spring tides on new and full moons. When combing the beach, remember to check along the high tide line. Storm tides and full-moon tides often deposit prime specimens at the foot of the dunes.

Seasonally, the best shelling on North Carolina beaches is in winter, when strong winds and rough seas bring shells on shore - plus, fewer people are walking the beach, which increases the odds of finding prize specimens. Early in spring and fall are also good times, and anytime after a storm offers good shelling potential.

Several areas of North Carolina's coast have earned shelling reputations; Hammocks Beach State Park, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Shackleford Banks, Ocracoke Island and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. You'll notice all these are island beaches rather than mainland beaches. Waves reach these islands first, so there's a better chance of finding interesting shells. Also, because the islands are accessible by boat or ferries only, with the exception of Cape Hatteras, there are less people combing the beaches.

Cleaning and preserving your prize involves a series of simple steps. First, make sure no animal remains inside. There are two reasons for this: One, the animal will die if removed from its marine environment, and two, the shell will stink like the dickens for weeks.

Wash and flush the shells thoroughly (their spirals can hold an amazing amount of sand), and clean off any algae or barnacles (leave barnacles if you like them). Some suggest soaking shells in a light mixture of bleach and water. This works well if the shell is naturally white, otherwise the shell's color will fade. Dry shells completely in a well-ventilated, shady area. Avoid drying in the sun, as sun fades colors. To retain color, apply a very thin coat of mineral oil after the shell is thoroughly dry.

Most importantly, never collect live shells, or shells that have an animal living inside, such as a hermit crab. Hermit crabs are interlopers and often inhabit what appear to be empty shells. And, avoid taking live sand dollars. Living sand dollars are covered with a brownish or greenish fuzz. If they are white, they are no longer alive and are free for the taking.

Information provided by the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is closed for expansion, however offices are operating out of Atlantic Station Shopping Center, Atlantic Beach. The state operates three public aquariums; one in Pine Knoll Shores, another at Fort Fisher and a third on Roanoke Island. The aquariums are administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and are designed to inspire appreciation and conservation of North Carolina's aquatic environment. For more information about the Aquariums, log onto http://www.ncaquariums.com, or call 800-832-FISH.

The Real Walter Jones

I have been searching the blogsphere (sp?) for good NC news and opinion sites. This led me to a wonderful bio of Rep. Walter Jones on Real Values. They don't think much of young Walter but then neither do I. The one thing they miss is that Jones has so pissed off his House majority bosses by voting against the budget and his comments on the War in Iraq that he has become a virtual pariah. He cannot accomplish anything for his district. He did make a noble stand to try to increase funding for the Corp. of Engineers for inlet dredging but couldn't get it passed his own party.
Expect real challengers in the primary and in Nov. Maybe we will get a real Congressman like his daddy.

[Fwd: "Facts Regarding The Highway Trust Fund:o Rep. Sue Myrick's Letter

Rep. Sue Myrick, (R-NC) attacked Sen. Basnight and House Speaker Jim Black last week for raiding the Highway Trust Fund. Some believe this was Mryicks kick off in a campaign for Govenor in 2008. I didn't know the truth of the matter until I found this article on a Raleigh TV station site.

WRAL.com - News - "Facts Regarding The Highway Trust Fund::

In 1989, the North Carolina General Assembly approved the creation of the Highway Trust Fund and its main purpose was to support the delivery and implementation of the Transportation Improvement Program. The Highway Trust Fund receives the majority of its funding from the Highway Use Tax. Before 1989, the highway use tax was better known as the 'car sales tax.' Although the name changed, the function was the same."

TimesDispatch.com | Archaeologist promises he'll turn over discovered ring

This continuing story is very strange. Archeologist finds 16th century English ring while digging at the site of a major Indian village on Hatteras Island. Ring is an amazing artifact from the Lost Colony. Archeologist takes ring home, retires and keeps saying he will bring it back but doesn't, Here is the latest saga.

TimesDispatch.com | Archaeologist promises he'll turn over discovered ring: "Archaeologist promises he'll turn over discovered ring

The Associated Press

Jan 14, 2006

NAGS HEAD, N.C. -- A retired East Carolina University archaeologist has promised to give up a 16th-century gold signet ring from a dig in Buxton on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

If David Phelps doesn't produce the ring by the end of the month, the school will consider how to force its delivery, an official said.

Phelps, who has had the ring since 1998, had assured the school that he would bring the ring and other artifacts from his digs at the site of the Croatan chiefdom to the university in December."

Califormia Sewage Spill

Driving home this afternoon I heard a report on NPR about a sewer spill on the beaches south of LA. Manhatten beach threatened by about 2 million gallons of raw sewage, dumped in the ocean because a pump stopped. A sewer system supervisor explained that they were lucky because it was a "small" spill and because it had been localized in one area rather than dumping out of numerous manholes.
"Messy Job"
Photo from LA Times



Point: This is what central sewage is and does. The very act of collection poses a threat to the environment. On-site waste treatment as we have on the Outer Banks is a much better model. Big upside for on-site is that failure are all small and very isolate. By small the average system in Nags Head processes less than 1000 gallons a day, probably less then 500.

The end of the Outer Banks as we know it will not come because of beach nourishment, it will come from central sewage Listen to the story and remember the option.

Pizza Delivery stories

Came across these sites will working on the blog (don't ask). Anyway, they are hilarious and helpful.

• The idiot list (True Tales of Pizza Delivery)


• Association of Pizza Dirvers


• A delivery driver's manifesto

You will never order pizza the same way again!!

It Snowed on Sat. night

Snow on the picnic table.
Snow on the steps


Not a lot of snow but just enough to get things little white. The ground was too warm for the snow to accumulate but the exposed steps and picnic table held the proof.

Kenny Chesney Video

OK I will try not to get too carried away with this concept before I move it to another blog. This may be the best summer romance song written since See you in Sept.

ANYTHING BUT MINE (Kenny Chesney)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Problems with template and MSIE.

I have been playing with my template trying to solve a formating problem with how the blog displays in MS Internet Explorer . Right now it drops the left hand column below the posts. This seems to be caused by formating problems with some posts. I guess I will keep experimenting. If you have having problems download a copy of the Firefox Browerer

Dare County Commissioner Joseph "Mac" Midgett Dies

A very sad time for Dare County. Whether you agreed with Mac or not you had to respect his straight forward approach. He served his constiuents on Hatteras Island very well.

Dare County Commissioner Joseph "Mac" Midgett Dies: "When the Dare County Board of Commissioners meets on Tuesday afternoon for the second time in 2006, there is no doubt that Commissioner Joseph “Mac� Midgett will be on everyone’s mind."

Ruling hurts county's efforts to enforce ordinances (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

ARTICLE: Ruling hurts county's efforts to enforce ordinances ): "Ruling hurts county's efforts to enforce ordinances

A judge has ruled that the federal government still has a strong interest in the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse.
A judge has ruled that the federal government still has a strong interest in the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse. DREW C. WILSON/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT FILE PHOTO

By JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, The Virginian-Pilot
� January 13, 2006

A judge has ruled that the federal government still has a strong interest in the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse, hurting the county’s chances of forcing the beacon’s current owners to abide by local ordinances.

If the county limited use of the lighthouse by enforcing parking and other ordinances, it wouldn’t be available for education and recreation, and that would foil the federal government’s intentions when it turned the beacon over to the non profit Outer Banks Conservationists in 2003, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle wrote.

The ruling hurts Currituck’s chances of enforcing the local ordinances, the conservation group’s founder John Wilson said .

“We believe this decides the important matters of this case,” Wilson said. “We would hope that Currituck County would accept this ruling.”"

Voter Referendum February 7, 2006

Recieved this from the Town of Nags Head. with link to sample ballot (unmarked by the way). How will you vote? or even will you vote?

Voter Referendum February 7, 2006: "Voter Referendum February 7, 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006 at 2:55 PM

There will be a special vote on Feb. 7, 2006 on the repeal of a levy for beach nourishment (repeal of the 1% local sales and use tax levy). A vote for is a vote to repeal the tax. A vote against is a vote to retain the tax. A sample ballot is enclosed.

Attached Document or FileSample Ballot for February 7, 2006 Voter Referendum PDF File"

Lobbying to Sell Your House - New York Times

Lobbying to Sell Your House - New York Times: "Lobbying to Sell Your House

By GLEN JUSTICE
Published: January 12, 2006

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 - When the nation's largest banks decided at the start of the decade that they wanted to get into the real estate brokerage business, one major obstacle stood in their way: the National Association of Realtors."

[Fwd: Beach News (1/10/06)]

Officials hoping funds will shore up sources for sand

Wilmington Star by Gareth McGrath (1/10/06)

When Hurricane Isabel slammed into the Outer Banks in September 2003, the Category 2 storm blasted a new inlet just north of Hatteras Village. It took crews nearly two months and 400,000 cubic yards of sand to fill the 2,000-foot-wide hole in the barrier island. But officials said they were fortunate to have a high-quality sand source nearby to mine: the Hatteras Island-Ocracoke ferry channel. "We realize we were lucky in that regard," said the N.C. Department of Transportation's Roy Shelton, who is chairman of the Outer Banks Task Force, a multi-agency group that looks at transportation challenges on the chain of barrier islands. To make sure it has options if another inlet needs plugging, the state Board of Transportation this week is expected to approve spending $125,000 to find sources of sand offshore near four "hot spots" along the Outer Banks. The work, to be performed by the N.C. Geological Survey over the next two years, will analyze data that's already been collected by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a detailed five-year look at the Outer Banks. "This study takes that data from the broader study and focuses on four locations that are most prone to open up new inlets, either because they are historical trouble spots or the study showed them to be potential problems areas," said Tyler Clark, chief geologist with the NCGS. The hot spots - basically skinny portions of the Outer Banks where there's little sand - are areas where the DOT struggles to keep N.C. 12 open. They are near the northern end of Ocracoke Island, at the old Isabel Inlet and by Buxton and Rodanthe. But state officials insist the new proposal doesn't mean they wouldn't consider alternatives to filling a new inlet. "That's not to say it's a foregone conclusions that they would be filled," Shelton said. "But if that's one of the alternatives, then having this information beforehand would allow us to make a better decision." Environmentalists and some researchers have said pumping sand back into a breach is a shortsighted fix based on economics and politics rather than sound scientific principles or the best use of taxpayer money. Other options include bridging inlets, establishing new ferry services and retreating from areas that are severely eroded or isolated. Stanley Riggs, a geologist with East Carolina University, notes that historically the Outer Banks has experienced the regular opening and closing of inlets. As many as a dozen openings were around when the first colonists landed more than 400 years ago. Today there are three inlets - Oregon, Hatteras and Ocracoke. "From a natural point of view, they are wanted and needed by the coastal system," Riggs said. Stan White, who represents the Outer Banks on the state Board of Transportation, said the DOT isn't predetermining a course of action if a new inlet is created. "We would be remiss if we weren't prepared," he said. "We need to have our options available to us." Riggs agrees that knowing the best sources of sand is simply smart planning. But he added that actually pumping it into a breach might not be the best decision. "Our management approach right now is to try and stabilize a nonstable barrier island," Riggs said, "and in the long run that's probably not good for the barrier island or the development that's on it."

Wrightsville won't get billed for dredging

Wilmington Star by John Desantis (1/10/06)
Wrightsville Beach was let off the hook Monday night in a dispute with neighboring Figure Eight Island over dredging of Mason Inlet. New Hanover County Commissioners ditched a proposal that would have forced a sharing of costs in a tight timeline. The issue was shoaling of Mason Inlet, which separates the two island communities, and the limited time in which it can be dredged while equipment remains in the waterway. Under the proposal considered by commissioners, Figure Eight would have paid for the sand once it was delivered to shore up their storm-damaged beaches, while Wrightsville - benefiting from the clearing of the waterway - would be indebted to the tune of about $60,000. "It has been made very, very clear there is no requirement to do dredging in Mason Inlet at this time," Frank Pinkston, chairman of the Mason Inlet Preservation Group told commissioners, representing only one side of the inlet - that bordering Wrightsville. Bill Raney, an attorney representing the Figure Eight Homeowners Association, said it was in the best interests of the county and the inlet for the proposed agreement to be approved. "The real important issue here is what is the right thing to do to make this project work the best," Raney said. Chris Gibson, a consulting engineer for the county, said the damage done by Ophelia created a new urgency for the dredging, and suggested that getting the work done now, which would require the Wrightsville involvement, was the best course. But commissioners, for the most part, indicated they were not willing to commit Wrightsville Beach to paying for something it did not see as essential. The result, after more than an hour of spirited discussion, was a resolution that the current sand-removal program - financed by Figure Eight Island only - continue, which could result in delays to some dredging. Commissioners noted that there was no proof of any requirement by the Army Corps of Engineers that the dredging be done immediately. Commissioner Ted Davis was the lone vote opposing the measure his colleagues proposed, expressing concerns that an opportunity to do needed work on the inlet could be passed up. In other business, the commissioners approved a $1 million telephone system that will replace all telephones used by their agencies. IT Director Leslie Stanfield assured them that the new system would pay for itself in five years, and turned down a special use permit that would have allowed Cingular Wireless to erect a cell phone tower on Murray Farms Road.

"Beach News" is a courtesy service provided by the Carteret County Shore Protection Office that furnishes on-line news relevant to the beaches of North Carolina with special emphasis to Carteret County. Please e-mail rudi@carteretcountygov.org <mailto:rudi@co.carteretcountygov.org> if you wish to be removed from or added to "Beach News". Archived "Beach News" is available at www.protectthebeach.com/beachnews 2006.htm <http://www.protectthebeach.com/beachnews 2006.htm> .

www.protectthebeach.com <http://www.protectthebeach.com>

Ocean Isle renourishment in jeopardy

Ocean Isle renourishment in jeopardy

BY SARAH SHEW WILSON, Staff writer

Ocean Isle Beach's delayed renourishment cycle, originally scheduled for 2004, is in jeopardy once again, according to Col. John Pulliam of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Wilmington District Office.

Pulliam presented that message to the Ocean Isle Beach Board of Commissioners and a meeting room full of interested property owners at Tuesday morning's board meeting, where he vowed to keep fighting for the project to be completed by the government's environmental deadline: May 1.

Only one company submitted a bid for the project, and, like last year, the bid came in significantly over the government's estimate-$18.2 million versus $12.4 million for the entire project-which includes a similar venture at Wrightsville Beach, Pulliam said. The good news is that the bid for the Ocean Isle Beach project alone was not quite as off-the-mark: $3.7 million versus an estimate of $2.8 million.

“I suspect a lot of [the reason for this] has to do with two years of bad hurricanes,” Pulliam said.

He said that he and his staff plan to negotiate with the contractor, Great Lakes, to come up with an amount that is feasible for both sides.

The contractor lodged an official protest of the government's estimate, giving both sides the opportunity to look at the costs involved, which will be a good starting place for negotiations, Pulliam said.

He said that the negotiations will probably take “a couple of weeks” and suggested that the state and local funding might have to be increased in order to get the project completed this year.

If he is successful, it will be the first renourishment since the berm project was constructed in 2001. It was designed as a 50-year project with three-year renourishment cycles.

The renourishment was originally scheduled for 2004, but corps officials determined that the cycle wouldn't be needed until 2005.

Then, last February, the town learned that the bids had come in more than 25 percent over the government's estimates, and therefore, the project could not be completed in 2005.

“There's no way we can put this off until the fall,” Commissioner Richard Donovan told Pulliam Tuesday.

Commissioner D.B. Grantham asked how long it would take to get the project completed if negotiations were successful. The officials responded that it would take 81 days to complete everything.

Pulliam assured the board that the project is a high priority, as did Mary Ellen Simmons of U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's Wilmington office.

“I cannot assure you enough how committed the congressman is to this project,” she said.

Third Street property owner Jack Oxford, sitting in the audience, commented that the town couldn't afford to “quibble over a few hundred thousand” when it would cost more to replace lost infrastructure on the east end if Third Street is completely destroyed.

Fourth Street property owner Bobbie Fox agreed, saying “It's a critical situation.”

“If Third Street goes, we're going to lose more houses,” she said. “We need to do anything we can do to protect the street.”

In a related matter, the board voted unanimously to allow a group of east end property owners to use the town's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permit, with CAMA approval, to place more sandbags on the strand in front of their homes. The board also agreed to spend up to $5,000 to make other improvements on the strand.

Lost posts

I lost several posts and some pictures trying to resolve a formatting issue when the blog was viewed using MS IE. If you are looking for something but don't see it here or in the archives post a comment and I will try to resolve or repost.

Bill Pitt letter in OB Sentinel

The Outer Banks Sentinel
Pitt: Protect what we have


Interested in what happens to the economy and scale of development in oceanfront communities that have been impacted by storm damage, I have been trying to keep track of the action on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

In the Gulfport-Biloxi area virtually the entire tourism industry was destroyed in the storm. In response to the devastation the governing bodies in the area, including the state legislature have provided legislation to permit moving the casinos onto land. Plans have been laid to construct an entire new tourism industry infrastructure to include a minimum of 30,000 new hotel rooms, a 600,000-square-foot convention center, and as many new or upgraded activities and attractions as possible, all supported by a $20 million annual marketing program. The intent is to transform the now-devastated area into a premier "Tier One" Tourist destination by 2010. Now that will be re-development!

This is in sharp contrast with what has happened in communities that have been fortunate enough to have Beach Nourishment Projects in place. Spencer Rogers' (North Carolina Sea Grant) research demonstrates that oceanfront communities protected by beach nourishment projects suffer much less storm damage loss than do unprotected communities.

It is unlikely that we will suffer the same scale of catastrophic loss as the Mississippi Gulf coast. Our loss of oceanfront has been much more gradual. It has taken over 50 years to accumulate the current level of loss (the total assessed value of the Kitty Hawk oceanfront is now about $60 million, compared to more than $450 million for the same length of oceanfront in Kill Devil Hills).

If we do nothing to protect ourselves we will eventually reach the point where we have to make the decision to either re-develop or abandon our more severely threatened beaches. Human nature being what it is, that decision will be to re-develop, and that the scale of that re-development will be significantly greater than our current scale.

Protecting what we already have will go a long way towards preserving our existing scale of development. Despite statements that we are "over developed", our current scale of development is something worth preserving. There isn't any other way of protecting what we already have other than beach nourishment.

-Bill Pitt, Kill Devil Hills

Dominos

Expect Stan White to take Bill Culpeppers seat in Raleigh this week.
He has broader appeal throughout the district and is a proven fund raiser.

Next question is who will fill White's seat on the DC Board.
The early choice is former Commissioner and Coastal Resources
Commission member Doug Langford.

Comments on Pitts Letter

As ususal Bill Pitt makes enormous sense. Beach nourishment is not about building bigger homes its about keepint the homes we have now. The opponents of protecting our beaches do not have a realistic plan for dealing with erosion over the next 20-50 years. Will we all really just move to Columbia or will we take reasonable actions to protect what we have now.

1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission

This terrible time in NC History is being revealed now in a number of ways. The link above will lead you to the full report on the riots prepared by order of the NC General Assembly.

The NY Times had a piece on the op-ed page.

Finally the State of Things, a daily program on events and issues in NC produced an hour long segment on the riots and the report. Very Good. this is the archive page scroll down to Dec 21, 2005 to read the summary and hear the program.